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Behind the happy, clappy Jesus Army

Radical church that talks in tongues and recruits asylum seekers and the homeless

“Would you throw your whole life away for Jesus?” boomed a fiery young man.

“Yes!” and “Hallelujah!” issued forth from the 1,000-plus crowd.

For once, I kept my mouth shut.

The modern Jesus Army was on the march at a rally in Birmingham last weekend.

The radical Christian church has previously been labelled a sinister sect, a cult that preys on the vulnerable. They are claims it has always denied.

Dozens of mJA members campaigned across Birmingham last week to attract potential new recruits.

Happy, smiling followers handed out glossy flyers to myself and passers-by, as well as a tabloid-style ‘Street’ newspaper which boasted about life in the church.

I showed an interest and was invited to drop in to the rally at Cocks Moors Leisure Centre, Kings Heath.

When I arrived, it was packed with a colourful congregation, mainly made up of mJA members. They included men with flowing beards, women in long skirts, teenage boys and girls, skinheads and what looked like down-and-outs.

Although from obviously differing backgrounds, they were united by the stark fluorescent orange crosses hanging from their necks.

Others wore matching black t-shirts with ‘mJA’ and their ‘virtue name’ – Meek, Perceptive and Befriended were just a few emblazoned across the back.

As I looked around, rock bands warmed up on a stage fitted with two jumbo-TVs and a baptism pool.

I was greeted by Dave, a bearded, fiftysomething with a permanent smile. He was sporting a modern Jesus Army football jersey that boasted: “Alive!”

He joined the church at its inception in Northampton in 1973.

“The church now has 2,500 members,” he told me. “At its core are 500 of us, who live in New Creation Christian Communities.

“There are 20 people in my house, from an 80 year-old retired nurse to a 15 year-old schoolgirl.”

He beamed: “We are the largest Christian community in Europe.”

“You mean like communes?” I asked.

“Erm, well, yes, sort of,” he said, shifting uncomfortably.

Communities are at the heart of the controversy surrounding the church.

The mJA owns 60 large houses across Britain where ‘brothers and sisters’ live an ascetic existence in ‘families’.

It has previously been claimed that members are asked to give all their wages and possessions to their church, and must also take a vow of celibacy.

And critics say while marriage is allowed, spouses must be sanctioned by the mJA and sex is only permitted for procreation. Meanwhile, competitive sports, TV, non-church music, the internet, smoking, and drinking are all said to be banned.

And despite glossy mJA leaflets promising ‘no prejudice’, only men can be leaders – and they seem to take all decisions.

Women are encouraged to wear long skirts and behave in a traditional manner. Relationships with people outside the church are discouraged.